Jones told Singh that President Barack Obama wanted the US and India “to work together closely on the regional security matters”. He also conveyed to Singh an invitation from Obama to visit the White House between September and November. The Prime Minister is believed to have accepted the invitation. This will be Singh’s first visit to the US after the change of regime in Washington and the parliamentary elections back home. Singh and Obama, however, had their first interaction on the sidelines of the G 20 summit in London last April. A spokesman of the US embassy said that the upcoming visit of the PM would provide both Singh and Obama an opportunity to continue the discussions they started in London focusing on the global economic situation, trade, energy, climate change and regional security issues.
Jones also briefed Singh on the US Government’s strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They also discussed about the menace of terrorism in South Asia as well as the post-election situation in Iran. “I enjoyed a very productive visit to India. President Obama views the US-India relationship to be of foremost importance in advancing our common interests,” he said.
The US NSA is currently on a tour to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. He has already visited Kabul and Islamabad. He flew from Islamabad to New Delhi on Thursday evening, just a few hours after his remark on the dispute over Kashmir flustered India. New Delhi has all along been opposed to mediation by any third country to resolve Kashmir issue.
Jones also met his Indian counterpart M K Narayanan on Thursday and on Friday he called on Defence Minister A K Antony, Army Chief Deepak Kapoor and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.
Jones is the second US official to upset India by making “unwelcome remarks” on Kashmir while on a tour to India. The Under Secretary of State William J Burns had earlier this month said here that New Delhi and Islamabad should resolve the dispute by taking into account the wishes of Kashmiris.